EAST LANSING — Consumers Energy is encouraging its suppliers and vendors to join it in supporting the state of Michigan’s Pure Michigan Business Connect initiative. The announcement was made by Dan Malone, senior vice president, distribution and customer operations, during the utility’s Supplier Summit recently at the Kellogg Center, East Lansing.

Consumers Energy recently doubled to $500 million its commitment to purchase Michigan-made goods and services over five years.

To-date under this initiative, Consumers Energy has made payments of $225 million and awarded 517 contracts to 237 suppliers located in 81 cities in the state.

Mike Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said that Consumers Energy’s action to encourage suppliers to "buy Michigan first" will put more state residents back on the payroll and help state firms sell more goods and services.

"We know that Pure Michigan Business Connect is driving up employment and encouraging business growth. We appreciate Consumers Energy’s ongoing leadership role in this program," Finney said.

The event highlighted a Detroit-based company — Ideal Contracting LLC — that attended its first Supplier Summit one year ago. Ideal Contracting subsequently received a contract for services from Consumers Energy.

"Ideal Contracting was built in Detroit. Investing in our community and in Michigan has helped us grow as a business. Our commitment to the city and the state continues as we build for other Michigan-based businesses, like Consumers Energy. These key opportunities allow us to expand our employee base and trade labor team, as well as providing new capital for our equipment and fabrication abilities. So much of what Michigan has to offer has made Ideal Contracting what we are today," said Dan Kovoch, Vice President/ General Manager, Ideal Contracting LLC.